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Childbirth/MY BABY @ 16 WEEKS

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Expert: - 5/1/2009


Question
CAN LOUD BASS/MUSIC IN THE CAR HURT MY BABYS EARS IN THE WOMB OR
EVEN MAKE HIM DEAF??

THANK YOU!

Answer
Playing music loud in the car is generally not a problem and normally does not affect the baby's hearing.

By 24-30 weeks, your baby will be able to hear sounds, but it would be through you and through the amniotic fluid and it will sound muffled - similar to if you are at a pool and go underwater and someone is playing loud music nearby.

Now if your baby has prolonged AND repeated exposure to very loud noise where the sound level is more than 90 or 100 decibels (very loud music can be around 90-100 decibels) — that does raise the odds of a baby suffering some hearing loss, especially at higher frequencies. Such prolonged noise exposure can also increase the risk of premature delivery and low-birth-weight babies.

So my advice would be that a normal amount of listening to loud music in the car should be fine.  But if you're driving 8 hours a day on a regular basis though, you might want to turn it down a little. :)

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Dorothy H, LCCE

Expertise

As a certified childbirth educator and birth doula, I can answer questions dealing with preparing for birth, childbirth classes, pregnancy, what happens during labor and birth, doulas, VBAC, natural childbirth, cesarean birth, interventions in labor, labor, birth, helping someone through labor, concerns or fears about labor and birth, doulas, breastfeeding, and other topics dealing with pregnancy, labor, and birth.

Experience

Since 2004, I have taught childbirth education classes focused on helping couples gain confidence, make decisions for their birth, and give them tools for helping them get the birth they want. Since 2004, I have also attended births in local hospitals as a birth doula (as of 8/10, I have attended 120 births) so I am able to see firsthand what is working in helping couples deal with labor. I am also a mom of five children, and have various birth experiences myself, including unmedicated birth and a cesarean.

Organizations
Lamaze International DONA International

Publications
International Doula Magazine

Education/Credentials
I am a Lamaze-certified childbirth educator. I am a DONA-certified birth doula.

Past/Present Clients
I work with approximately 4-6 couples a month with my childbirth classes. I attend 2 births a month with doula clients.

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